A series of major explosions this week at an air defense base in Syria appeared to be caused by a military airstrike.

Details of what happened outside the northwestern coastal city of Latakia remain sketchy, but reports in both the Middle East and the United States described it as an Israeli airstrike against the Syrian installation. Israel has occasionally launched targeted strikes on Syria installations and as usual, it would not comment on reports that it was involved in the latest incident.

Citing unnamed sources, Al Arabiya reported that an Israeli strike had targeted a depot holding surface-to-air missiles destined for the Lebanon-based militant group Hizballah. Citing an Obama administration official, CNN also reported it was an Israeli military strike. But there was also confusion about when the strike occurred; some reports said Wednesday, others Thursday.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported witnesses describing explosions at the Syrian military base. The Observatory did not identify the source of the explosion, but an unnamed Syrian security source told AFP that a rocket fell near the base.

CNN reported Thursday that an anonymous Obama administration official said Israeli fighter jets attacked the base, describing it as a missile storage site, apparently confirming reports on Twitter and in the Israeli media.

“We’re not commenting on these reports,” an Israeli official told Reuters.

Reuters also reports that the Lebanese military said six Israeli jets flew over Lebanese territory on Wednesday, a higher number than usual for Israeli patrols and which, in the past, have preceded Israeli strikes.

Israel says nothing because we don't want to be identified with any of
the sides to the Syrian lovefest. The bombing of a government facility is
clearly detrimental to Assad's prestige, but we are rather wary of the
alternative. The Free Syrian Army is a hollow entity, less substantial than the
democratic coalition of Egypt or the Muslim Brotherhood, so we don't kid
ourselves that its victory will bring peace and security to Israel. Otherwise,
we could open its way to Damascus in 48 hours, and accomplish the end of
Assad's regime by means too effective for European leaders even to contemplate.
That's unfortunate for the Syrian people, innocent people that endure one of
the most barbaric civilian wars in recent memory. However, every Israeli citizen,
bar none, is rather happy to sit on the sideline and let others to fight. But
sitting in the spectators' balcony doesn't mean we'll be passive when our
security is endangered by arming the Hezbollah with deadly weapons. Assad knows
this, but he's forced to accept the Devil terms: Hezbollah will provide much
needed help in return for sophisticated missiles. The price, deniable
preventive actions by Israel, is probably worth paying. The irony is that Assad
groomed Hezbollah to be his power base in Lebanon, Hezbollah pretended to be the
shield of Lebanon against Israeli aggression, and Israel was happy about the
stability of its border with Syria. Now the Hezbollah props Assad's regime as a
proxy of Iran, the Lebanese want Hezbollah to disarm and stop provoking Israel,
and Israel treats Syrian civilian casualties who cross the border to receive
medical help in Israeli hospitals. It'd be hilarious if not so many innocent people
were paying with blood and misery for their politicians' follies.

It is not entirely clear who, how and when the place was hit. It ought to be very clear, however, that Israel has had several red lines which it has announced over and over again, that must be well internalized by all the forces that operate in Syria.

Specifically, Israel has been stating, time and again, that it would not intervene in the internal affairs of Syria, including the taking sides during the civil war there. But, it certainly will respond if and when:

1) Israeli soldiers or civilians on Israel's side of the border are attacked2) Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are employed3) Strategic weapons are transferred to lawless organizations such as Hizballah

Israel, happily, unlike the present occupant of the Oval Office, has kept its word, and has acted ONLY when one of the three conditions has been violated. And, Israel has been doing so under the assumption - that some abroad can't internalize - that we, Jews, are as entitled to the very first of all human rights, i.e. the right to life and life's defense.

Yeah of course, if they did it. But will the world see it that way? No. Every time Israel does something sensible people complain. If it wasn't for Israel we'd all be suffering terrorism. People condemn the violence in the East and then when something is done about it they get nervous. Frustrates me.

Its all coming to pass, as this world enters a period of sorrow and suffering, as a woman in labour before birth..........A new world is coming, but not before the Great Tribulation spoken of in Revelations. Turn to Christ, in sincere repentance, and call upon the name of Jesus, who is mighty to save you from sin and Everlasting punishment.........

.......Revelation 16:14.......... For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

So it is Israel and the Saudis that want Assad out and the doop US was supposed to be the fall guy. I bet it was Israel that was behind getting rid of Saddam and Ghaddafi, this is the start of the greater Israel under the cover of US hegemony. I wish these despotic regimes would go the way of bell bottom jeans, rip, tear and get thrown in the trash because all they do is offer death and misery except for their kind.

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it's pretty clear that no one wants peace in syria. the government clearly doesn't, the rebel groups clearly don't, so don't make it seem like it's solely external forces preventing peace from occurring.

I'm detecting that you may not have a very good understanding of what Israel is as compared to the image it portrays.

Terrorism in the Middle East is a direct result of US and Israeli collaboration. And it began with the colonization of Palestine by white Jewish supremacists from Europe a 100 years ago. That land theft goes on to this day. And the US is known to manipulate Middle Eastern countries to get at their oil. Often at the expense of the people of that country. The Shah of Iran is an example of this meddling.

We have "enemies" because of OUR actions. Their actions are a reaction. But the press here won't tell you that.